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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
opinion | our view
A salute to veterans It’s over. At last. No more TV ads. Jima; John Saputo, Skip Sack, David Novak, But as America shifts, adjusts and Longboaters, Marines; Andy Hooker, endures, the next few days likely Sarasota, Army helicopters, Vietnam; Bill will deliver an aftermath similar to Kelley, Longboater, U.S. Navy, D-Day Hurricane Sandy — as the pain for the survivor, Omaha Beach. afflicted sets in, there’ll be sqawking, Marina Jack was filled with more than yelling and endless TV reporting 200 heroes Wednesday when the Marine on alleged voter fraud and voter veterans celebrate the 237th anniversary suppression. of the Corps. We’ll pick up and eventually We admire them all for their courage, recover and move on. sacrifice and commitment to the cause Let’s hope there is no gloating — of liberty. As they all can tell you, there throwing gas on the fire. is nothing worse than war. It is hell So in the vein of moving on from on earth. With its costs so the intensity of the past year and devastating and immeasurable reuniting the United States of in so many ways, it should America, here are two reminders never occur. But since the time that may help put Tuesday’s results of the Book of Deuteronomy, in a bigger picture: greedy, maniacal despots •Monday is Veterans Day. have placed themselves above • Freedom is not free. people, rejecting the value of Most of us had the opportunity life. to have our say Tuesday when we That’s another whole subject. slipped our ballot into the electronic Instead, we want to express our scanner. Billions of people in this gratitude to all of our veterans. world do not get that opportunity. And a good way to do that is to We have that opportunity because quote the words of our nation’s of the men and women in this nation’s first president, when George Washington 236-year history who believed and sent his farewell address to the believe in the cause of liberty. They Revolutionary War army: were willing to give their lives in “He presents his thanks in the most defense of freedom. An extraordinary serious and affectionate manner to the concept — that freedom is so precious General Officers, as well for their Counsel men and women are willing to die for it. on many interesting occasions, as for Whatever it takes. their ardor in promoting the success That is why Veterans Day is of the plans he had adopted — To important. It is especially important the Commandants of Regiments to this region — Longboat Key, and Corps, and to the other Officers Sarasota, Manatee — and to Florida. for their great Zeal and attention Almost 85,900 U.S. military veterans in carrying his orders promptly live in Greater Sarasota-Manatee. And into execution — To the Staff for 1.6 million veterans live in Florida, their alacrity and exactness in the second highest number of any performing the duties of their several state except California. Departments — And to the NonFlorida honors its veterans. When commissioned officers and private you filled out your ballot Tuesday Soldiers, for their extraordinary (and in early voting), you had the patience in suffering, as well as opportunity to reinforce how we feel their invincible fortitude in Action as a state about our veterans. The … To the various branches of the Legislature crafted Amendments 2 Army, the General takes this last and and 9 to give property-tax exemptions solemn oppertunity of professing his to combat-wounded veterans and the inviolable attachment & friendship — A few of our veterans, from top left clockwise: Fay and surviving spouse of veterans killed He wishes more than bare professions Geri Cunningham at the Sarasota Veterans Day parade in the line of duty as a way of paying were in his power, that he was really in 2009; Andy Hooker, Army/Vietnam; David Novak, homage to our heroes. able to be usefull to them all in future Marines/Vietnam; George Swansey and Larry Bilodeau, In this region, we, for a long time, Korea; David Beliles, Marines/Korea; Bill Kelley, Navy/D- life; He flatters himself however, they have had many great heroes among will do him the justice to believe, Day survivor. us. The late Maj. Gen. Aubrey S. that whatever could with propriety Newman lived here. Newman became be attempted by him, has been done. survived Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway famous for his battle cry in World War II. And being now to conclude these his last and the Battle of Guadalcanal. He earned With his Infantry Division bogged down on public Orders, to take his ultimate leave, three Distinguished Service Medals, seven Leyte Island, Newman shouted: “Get the in a short time, of the Military Character, Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Air hell off the beach … Follow me!” … and to bid a final adieu to the Armies he Medals, three Legions of Merit, the Silver “Follow me!” became the motto of an has so long had the honor to Command — Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Army recruiting poster. he can only again offer in their behalf his Two former chiefs of staff of the U.S. We had the late Brig. Gen. John H. recommendations to their grateful Country, Army Command in Europe made their McLain, for whom the Southgate post office homes here: Retired Lt. Gens. Rolland and his prayers to the God of Armies. May is named. Gen. McLain earned 15 medals ample justice be done them here, and may Heiser and Howard G. Crowell Jr. And for his heroism in World War II and Korea, the choicest of Heaven’s favors both here on Tuesday, Manatee voters re-elected serving with Gen. Patton. and hereafter attend those, who under the Larry Bustle to the Manatee County Longboaters will never forget the late divine auspices have secured innumerable Commissioon. Bustle, a Naval Academy Air Force Lt. Gen. James V. Edmundson, blessings for others: With these Wishes, graduate, flew 138 combat missions in for whom the Longboat Key post office is and this benediction, the Commander in Vietnam for the Air Force, the last 68 of named. In his 36-year military career, Gen. Chief is about to retire from service — The them over North Vietnam. Edmundson flew and survived 107 combat Curtain of seperation will soon be drawn The list of heroes is miles long. They’re missions in World War II, 32 missions — and the Military Scene to him will be everywhere: Marty Samowitz, 99, Longboat in Korea and 42 in the Vietnam War. He closed for ever.” Key, the oldest surviving Marine at Iwo
THE CASTAWAY by Jorge Blanco